Digitata problems

[Kups]

I have two identical digitata frags in my DT but one is thriving and the other is struggling. The larger frag isn't getting full polyp extension and seems to have some sort of algae growth on some of the tips. All the coral in my tank seems to be doing well except this one frag. Does it maybe need more light and/or flow? The smaller frag is a bit higher up.

 

[Shred5]

That second one could have a pest. It looks like it might have some bare spots too.
flashlight at night.

 

[Kups]

That second one could have a pest. It looks like it might have some bare spots too.
flashlight at night.

No pests that I can see. Would an ALK swing be a possible reason? It dropped slowly to about 6.5 from 8 over a few weeks when I was sick and not monitoring.

 

[Jon from TerraReef]

What is the timeline here? Were they both introduced to your tank recently?(If so when?) If they have been in your tank for a while when did they start to look rough?

Do you have any "Fish on the fringe" or "reef safe with caution" or file fish or butterflies?

 

[Kups]

What is the timeline here? Were they both introduced to your tank recently?(If so when?) If they have been in your tank for a while when did they start to look rough?

Do you have any "Fish on the fringe" or "reef safe with caution" or file fish or butterflies?

Both frags were introduced at the same time about 3 months ago. The one just started looking rough in the last 2-3 weeks and previously was doing well.

I don't have any fish that I believe would be problematic. I have YT, PBT, Kole tang, lyretail anthias, green chromis and royal gramma.

I don't have much sps but my Montipora has been growing like crazy and looks better than ever.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Looks like you have some "bubble gum" digitata, as opposed to the Orange digitata variety.

I've had both before at the same time and I can say that bubble gum is much more finicky than the fire or orange.

Here's my "Orange":

A few questions:

How old is the system?
How long have you had the Digitata?
What kind of light are you using?
What's your overall photo period?
What's your water parameters? (mostly your nutrient levels)

From the second picture, it looks as if shadowing may have caused some tissue loss.

 

[Kups]

Looks like you have some "bubble gum" digitata, as opposed to the Orange digitata variety.

I've had both before at the same time and I can say that bubble gum is much more finicky than the fire or orange.

Here's my "Orange":

View attachment 93403

A few questions:

How old is the system?
How long have you had the Digitata?
What kind of light are you using?
What's your overall photo period?
What's your water parameters? (mostly your nutrient levels)

From the second picture, it looks as if shadowing may have caused some tissue loss.

The system has been running 3 years now. The digitata has only been in the tank about 3 months.
I have a 4 bulb T5 hybrid with 2 Ecotech xr15 G5's.
The LEDs run 10 hours and the T5's run for 4 hours (I can double check the T5 tomorrow but I'm pretty sure it's 4 hours)

NO3 - <1
PO4 - 0.03
KH - 7.5-8
Ca - 425
Mg - 1350

I run an algae scrubber and find that NO3 and PO4 are always low. I do dose NO3 occasionally when it's reading 0. Zero PO4 does not seem to happen. I use Hanna for PO4 and Salifert for everything else.

Growth has been really good for everything lately except this one digitata. I appreciate any advice.

 

[Jon from TerraReef]

First I wouldn't change too much for just one coral if everything else is doing well.

I would trim the photoperiod on your macro algae so your Nitrates to do not "bottom out" and become undetectable. If your skimmer is on a controller you could also have it off for three hours a day during your highest pH time of the day.(and maybe off twice as long after feeding if you use feed modes). Keeping a bit of Nitrogen in the water will be beneficial.

Side note you say one of your digi isn't doing well, but your Montipora is doing well. "Digi" is short for Montipora digitata which is a specific species of Montipora.

If you have very large monopora colonies that have grown in your tank than you may have certain elements that have become depleted. Can you give us an idea of how much growth you've had with the other Montipora?(Images of colonies or full tank shots would be helpful)

 

[Kups]

First I wouldn't change too much for just one coral if everything else is doing well.

I would trim the photoperiod on your macro algae so your Nitrates to do not "bottom out" and become undetectable. If your skimmer is on a controller you could also have it off for three hours a day during your highest pH time of the day.(and maybe off twice as long after feeding if you use feed modes). Keeping a bit of Nitrogen in the water will be beneficial.

Side note you say one of your digi isn't doing well, but your Montipora is doing well. "Digi" is short for Montipora digitata which is a specific species of Montipora.

If you have very large monopora colonies that have grown in your tank than you may have certain elements that have become depleted. Can you give us an idea of how much growth you've had with the other Montipora?(Images of colonies or full tank shots would be helpful)

 

[Kups]

Can you give us an idea of how much growth you've had with the other Montipora?(Images of colonies or full tank shots would be helpful)

I would say the green montipora has at least doubled in size over the past 12 months. It was not happy the first 18 months or so it was in the tank and then just started taking off.

 

[Jon from TerraReef]

The green is likely "Montipora spongodes" or at least that is what hobbyist would call it.

Your trace elements shouldn't be too low if you do regular water changes or add trace elements by some means. Just incase, let me know the size of your tank is and what percentage of water you change and how often. Do you add trace elements?

What type of lights do you run? If LEDs what percentage are you running them at if they are adjustable?

Again I wouldn't recommend changing things significantly just because one of two specimens of the same species isn't doing well.

 

[Kups]

The green is likely "Montipora spongodes" or at least that is what hobbyist would call it.

Your trace elements shouldn't be too low if you do regular water changes or add trace elements by some means. Just incase, let me know the size of your tank is and what percentage of water you change and how often. Do you add trace elements?

What type of lights do you run? If LEDs what percentage are you running them at if they are adjustable?

Again I wouldn't recommend changing things significantly just because one of two specimens of the same species isn't doing well.

The total system volume is approximately 120 gallons and I typically do 10% water changes once a month. I only add kalk and adjust with alk, calcium and magnesium as needed. I'm 100% open to adding other elements.

The 4 T5 bulbs (3 blue+ and 1 coral+) run 5 hours a day (I was mistaken when I previously wrote 4). The G5 xr15s run at 75% for 10 hours a day.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I would agree that if the total system is doing well, changing anything suddenly, in a large way wouldn't be prudent.

The only thing that could be amiss could be with an established system only doing a water change once a month and no dosing of trace elements. Not as an only means of nutrient reduction, but as a way of replenishing and maintaining trace elements levels from the salt mix. Or dosing them as needed. A ICP test may clarify if there is a deficiency.

I personally don't dose anything in my 7 year old system except MB7 weekly. I do a 10% water change for the elements, not nutrient reduction. I also feed heavily each day.

@Kups, Get a ICP test before going forward with any changes.

 

[Jon from TerraReef]

Most hobby tanks shouldn't need Nitrates and Phosphates dosed to them. The rare situations where they may need to be dosed often include wall to wall SPS and almost no fish load.(which isn't your tank just yet) Having your skimmer and your algae turf scrubber run less often/aggressively will allow your nutrients to not bottom out and doing a bit more frequent water changes will help with bringing your trace elements closer to the levels they should be at.